The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals (AHPA), has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that the Federal Ministry of Health, complied with all judgements of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) delivered in its favour on March 28, 2019.
The group also appealed for the prompt payment of outstanding 2018 salaries to its members and also actualise the adjustment of CONHESS Scale which has been pending for so many years.
The JOHESU President, Biobelemoye Josiah, made the appeal when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday.
The group also prayed for the restriction of international travels by air to Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, all in an effort to curb the importation of Covid-19 into the country.
“Movements by seaport will be restricted to Lagos while there must be more restrictions to unhindered movements via land as we step up total surveillance on all ports of entry because of the challenges of COVID 19,” the JOHESU president stressed.
Josiah also called for the: “Facilitation and release of funds through a Presidential approval to cater for the adjustment of CONHESS salary structure which has lingered since January 2, 2014.
“Payment of withheld April and May 2018 salaries to JOHESU members in the Federal Health Institutions.
“Immediate implementation of consent judgments especially the implementation of the consultancy cadre for eligible health professionals in Nigeria
“Review of Concessioning of Health facilities in public interest
“The approach must be to redress the failed leadership of doctors in Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) by adopting the pre-1985 approach of getting hospital administrators to run the FHIs to reduce corruption which even the ICPC has confirmed is most pronounced in the MDAs of the Health Sector and thus pave way for the prudent management of our limited resources in healthcare.”
The group also reiterated it call on the need for the president to redress the deficiencies in decree 10 of 1985 now CAP 436 LFN 2004 to reposition the Federal Health Institutions.
“A Presidential intervention to redress the choice of a controversial chairmanship designate of the PCN as we re-position MDAs involved in drug distribution at all times and particularly in times of Health emergencies.
“In line with the philosophy of the Federal Government to fight corruption through the encouragement of whistle blowing to expose corruption, the 700 JOHESU members who inculcated this policy at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, have been denied payments of four months salaries, denied promotion which are their legitimate rights.
“The identified arrow-heads who led the anti-corruption initiative have been hit even harder as their outstanding salaries is between 5 to 7 months.
“We appeal to Your Excellency to on compassionate grounds direct an immediate redress of these seized salaries and emoluments while restoring the rights of these workers to be promoted,” the JOHESU President further appealed.
